And, from that Maya village in the deep south, to a Mestizo village in the far north - where the UDP area rep is warning that if the authority of the village council is not respected - there could be a clash this weekend.
The issue is over the Patchakan's public facilities - which fall under the sole control of the village council. But, they say another group with PUP ties is now trying to usurp that authority. It came to a Head last Saturday and while that was defused without incident - both sides are heading for another showdown this Saturday and the area rep - Hugo Patt is begging authorities to intervene before something bad happens:...
Roger Medina, Chairman
"They didn't reach yet to request permission of the use of the dome. What they did is that they came and told me that there is a new sports committee and that they will take over the facilities, the sporting facilities here in our village. Hence the reason I did not agree, because all the facilities within the village falls, according to the act it falls under the village council. We had a meeting and we agree that because of the date that they had wrong, it was not on the letter and they have approached me with the wrong way, because they didn't came and request permission. They came to take over the facility."
"They claimed to put up a sports committee and they claimed that the sports committee will be in charge of the sports facilities of our village. That is what they are claiming. So, they told me that as of tomorrow, that was Saturday, as of tomorrow they will take over the dome which is the public space and they will be using it."
Jules Vasquez
"Do you feel as the duly elected chairman, your power is being undermined or the village council's authority is being undermined?"
Roger Medina, Chairman
"That is exactly."
Hugo Patt
"What is concerning to us is that the village council has actually plan an event this Saturday 10th at the same venue and the executive of the PUP here has plan an event on the same day at this same venue and so we are concerned that given what has taken precedence that we might have a clash on Saturday."
"I felt very disheartened by the decision of the officer in charge when he indicated that his decision is that the event will continue despite knowing that if you want to use the spaces in any village, you have to consult with the village council. The acts governing local government are clear, if you want to do any activity in Belize City or any city for that matter, you have to get the permission of the city council. If you want to go to the towns, you have to get permission from the town council and likewise is the case with the village councils."
"When we spoke to the officers on the ground on that particular night, they perfectly understood what was happening was illegal and all we request them of was to follow the law. That was basically what the people and the village council were asking. That did not happen."
"I was out there on that particular night and I told them we don't want to encourage any violence, at no point in time am I entertaining that, but there is a law, let us follow the law. Thats all that we need to do. I am just afraid that if we don't as citizens of this country don't ensure that the laws are being followed, I think that ruckus will happen in this country sooner rather than later."
Jules Vasquez
"From another perspective, how about if I challenge you and say, well, you all are upset, because you all are being politically threatened, in terms of your hold on the village seat in Corozal North which is a UDP stronghold is being threatened. How do you respond to that?"
Hugo Patt
"The victory that we had in the last village council elections was a clear victory for the United Democratic Party, the people of Patchakan decided that they wanted a mandate under a UDP administration."
